Kodama
Forest spirit that curses those who harm sacred trees and woodland shrines
Lore
The Kodama are mysterious tree spirits from Japanese folklore, believed to dwell deep within ancient forests where the oldest trees have stood for centuries. Some legends describe them as echoes of the forest itself, while others claim they are the souls of the trees, watching silently from within twisted trunks and tangled branches. It was said that to cut down a tree inhabited by a Kodama invited disaster, curses, or death upon the offender. In the mountains of Japan, strange sounds carried through the woods were often believed to be the voices of Kodama whispering among the trees, warning travelers that the forest was alive and listening.